FOLLOW ME :)

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Hard Candy and E.L.F Haul

Hello my friends!

I have been very busy lately with life, job, Redskins (we are not doing too well this year, huh?), and various make up artist opportunities, which is why I've been so absent.

I have many many photos to share with you including my own photoshoot. Also, last night I had a chance to work with my best friend, who is a model and one of the top photographers Tony Veloz. I can't wait to share photos with you (as soon as I receive them). I did her make up, and she looked absolutely stunning! Please expect the shoot post in a day or so, where I will list all the techniques and products used.

I have been trying to make videos for you, but I still need an editing program. Please let me know where I can download a good one (preferably for free...hehe). But I am ready to speak to you on camera, if you are ready for me!!

I have not been buying much make up lately, but here is my recent haul that I love:

Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in 132 heat wave http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=12441146

Hard Candy Lipstick in Firewall and Flirt http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=12441018 http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=12441019

E.L.F. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen http://www.eyeslipsface.com/products.asp?dept_id=1235


E.L.F. Liquid Shadow in Sultry Satin http://www.eyeslipsface.com/products.asp?dept_id=1424

This is a photo from last weekend where I incorporated all of these products :-)

Till next time!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

My Birthday Hello

Last week in Bahamas

Hey Everyone!!

I miss all of you very much! I have been so busy lately with work, life events, and a little vacation :-) that I have neglected one of my favorite things - blogging! Today seemed an appropriate time to reconnect because it is MY BIRTHDAY!
I am thrilled to see what my 24th year in life will bring - especially in the beauty inspiration department. While being 23 I have attempted to keep the glamour look while kicking it down a notch. I have learned that less is more (at least for a day look). Sometimes a tinted moisturizer is better than foundation, transluscent powder plus bronzer is at times prettier than powder foundation, chap stick/lip gloss is sexier than lipstick. These are just some of the lessons learned.

Since I have been gone for so long, do you have any special requests? I promise to respond to every one of your requests within just a few days.

XO,
Yelena



Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Recent FAVORITES

I have been a busy bee recently with so many great and busy things going on. Besides work and family events, I have been involved in a fabulous COUTURE FOR A CURE Fashion show in Washington DC, which raised money for Nadine Namoff's Woman of the Year Campaign (money goes to leukemia and lymphoma treatment and research). I have also been going to sporting events and spending very much valuable time with friends :-)

With that said, I missed you all very much and would love to update you on my recent favorite/Go-to products!!

Foundation/Base
Almay Nearly Naked Touch-pad Liquid Foundation - this is incredible...and funny enough, I used to use it in High School. I put just a little bit of this on before concealer application and final look is flawless!

Concealer
Almay Smart Shade Concealer (in Light/Medium) with a breakthrough shade-sensing technology, which "starts out white and adjusts to right." So perfect under eyes and everywhere else. I've fallen for this one.

Mary Kay Concealer (in a black tube) color Beige 2 - This one is thicker in texture than Almay and still looks amazing under the eyes and everywhere else!

Eye Liner Pencil
Cover Girl Perfect Blend
MAC Smolder
Eyeliner Pen (Dupe of MAC's Penultimate)
Jordana's Eyeliner Pen (only $1.99 and amazing)

Eyeshadow/Eyebrows
MAC Charcoal Brown - This color is perfect (for me). Instead of using a lot of different taupe's and browns on my eyelids at one time, I now only use a light nude color all over and this Charcoal Brown in crease, and it looks better than anything I've tried before (as far as neutral browns). This is also a great color to fill in the brows (for the light brown/medium brown hair).

Lips
Barry M 101 Lip Paint - Perfect pale/nude pink :-)


That's all for now, but please expect more Favorite Products Posts coming up shortly!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Kim Kardashian Queen of Kims Contest

Being the huge Kim Kardashian Fan that I am, I went ahead and braved up to enter her Queen of Kim's contest. Have you heard about it? Ladies and Drag Queens will be battling out for number one spot to be Kim's look-a-like. The winner will receive a phone call from Miss Kim herself as well as a bag of her favorite products.

I was going to go all out and re-create her look to the Nth degree, but because of the lack of time, I took one of my photos and did some work on it. The photo is 3 years old, and although my hair was darker then, I had to use a bit more of photoshop to tone the color down even more :-).

The end result is not completely like her (and why would it be...she is a unique girl), but at least I entered, right?

Has anyone else entered the contest? I'd love to see your photos!!

Also, what DO you think of the darker hair color? Maybe its time I go back to the natural dark, no?

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

My Apology!

My fellow bloggers,

I am truly sorry for not updating you much lately. I actually have so many pictures to show you and products to review, but I have been so busy for the past 2 weeks. So I apologize to you. The good news: I will post a few fun things very soon for you! Hold tight :-).

Sincerely,

Yelena

Monday, April 27, 2009

2009 Healthy Beauty Awards - SELF Magazine

Hey!

My very good friend Jess, who happens to also be my beauty hero (CHECK OUT HER GIJess blog to find out why) has brought the following to my attention last night: 2009 Healthy Beauty Awards by Self Magazine.

This is the 10th annual list of 86 best beauty buys that were selected by 1,370 SELF readers. Some of the picks are considered steals ($10 or less) while others are splurges ($20 or more).

I won't list the products here as I really encourage you to check out the website!
However, I will list the products out of the 2009 Healthy Beauty Awards that I own and give you my personal recommendations.


I am looking forward to trying a few other products that have been voted as the best beauty products of 2009, some of which include:
  • Best Hairspray - L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray
  • Best All-Around Conditioner - Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Instant Melting Conditioner
  • Best Concealer - Almay Smart Shade Concealer

What about you? Do you own anything from the list? Anything you want to try?

Kim Kardashian = BLONDE!

DID YOU SEE? DID YOU SEE?

Kim's Twitter photo

Miss Kim is now a blondie! I love her as a brunette because it is so exotic, but because my current hair color is very similar to her new one (and I feel a bit biased as a result), I am beginning to like this look as well! Her new hair color reminds me a little bit of Jennifer Lopez, and I know Kim is a huge fan of hers.





P.S. It is actually a wig!!!! She fooled all of us :-)

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Favorite Drugstore Lip Glosses - Look Hot Saving Money

Who said that you have to spend a lot of money on beautiful lip glosses? Drugstores have a number of great choices that are comparable to MAC, NARS, and other upscale brands. And please trust when I say, I am very picky. Qualities that I particularly avoid in lip glosses are: sticky, watery, oily, too sheer, and too sparkly. Also being the fan of nude/light pink lip color that I am, I am very particular about color payoff. My lips are naturally red, so I need a very pigmented nude color in order to achieve my signature look :-).

Please let's give a round of applause for the three Drugstore lip gloss winners: L'Oreal Bubble Gum, Neutrogena Groove, and Neutrogena Whisper.

(From Left to Right in Both Photos) L'Oreal - Bubble Gum, Neutrogena - Groove, Neutrogena - Whisper

What do you think of the colors? I am in awe :-).

Bubble Gum by L'Oreal is a very light peachy pink and a perfect dupe of MAC Underage! I just put them side by side and they are identical. What an easy method to save $7. It is also a huge plus that the gloss has a yummy hint of a fresh and fruity scent.

Groove by Neutrogena is a typical baby Barbie Pink color, which is VERY similar to Kim Kardashian's favorite NARS lip gloss in Turkish Delight. I like this product even better due to its price, consistency, and smell. I have read positive and somewhat negative reviews for this lip gloss, but I love it completely. Turkish Delight would disappear on my lips, whereas this product stays :-). And once again, you can save about $14!

Whisper by Neutrogena probably resembles another famous and more expensive lip gloss, but I have not thought this far. I just really like the nude lip look that this gloss provides. Simple as that!

Do you have any drugstore favorites?

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

FOTD's and Product Reivew

I had a small event last night, and thought it would be a great opportunity for me to do a Face of the Day (FOTD) post for you today. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Getting Ready


My make up is done, but the hair still needs some work in this picture.

Face:
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (Original formula) in Sand
Make Up Forever Lift Concealer in #3 under eyes
Make Up Forever HD Powder to set everything
Too Faced Chocolate bronzer
MAC Peachy blush
MAC Soft and Gentle Hi-lighter on upper cheek bones and nose

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Coastal Scents Neutral Pallet colors (Beiges, Dark Browns, even the very dark burgundy, which almost looks black)
MAC Penultimate Eyeliner (a little on top and bottom)
MAC Smolder pencil along waterline
Maybelline Define A Lash Mascara
#116 Ardelle Lashes - love them!!!

Lips:
MAC Lip Erase (as base)
Sally Beauty Supply thick lip pencil in Shimmering Raisin
Rimmel Lipstick in Frosted

Complete Look My hair is all finished! I used the Enzo Milano Wand, which I absolutely love! I personally have never owned a better curling tool prior to this one.

Hair

What do you think? It actually did not take me long at all (thanks to Enzo Milano). In order to add volume and length I used 4 wefts of human hair extensions in 20 inch and 18 inch (and although I love the look, I don't do this on a daily basis).

BumpitI've grown to love bumpits. Personally, I am not a fan of teasing hair, nor am I a fan of hairspray. By using bumpits I avoid both of those methods. After I finished styling my hair, I lifted up the hair on my crown area and placed the bumpit right along the roots. I shifted the bumpit around in place for a few seconds to ensure security. Once I felt confident that the bumpit would stay in place, I dropped my hair loose over the bumpit. That's it! Oh, and in case you wonder, I wore this handy little tool for over 3 hours without any problems or discomfort.

If you don't already own Bumpits but are interested, click below to either buy them or simply read a little more: http://www.sallybeauty.com/bumpits/BUMPIT01,default,pd.html

Note: Of course, as almost every product out there, this is not for everyone. Not everyone will like it as much as others, but you just might!!

Perfume of the Month

Tommy Hilfiger - Dreaming

This smell is so beautiful, girly, and flirty - a total package for Spring.

Notes are: white peach, tuberose, freesia, white hibiscus, white woods, and orris.

The overall smell is very fresh and radiant, and when I spritz it on, I almost get a kick of extra energy. Weird, right? Although I own more perfumes than you'd ever wish to know, I am quite picky with smells. This one won me over recently, although it has been released over a year ago! I realize that perfume is very personal, and what may smell amazing to one person may not seem as appealing to another. However, I think this particular perfume would cater to most women, especially to those between ages 18 and 34.

And now its your turn! What is your favorite perfume right now?

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Aussie Leave-In Conditioner, Hair Insurance

Having soft, manageable, and silky hair is so beautiful, but the price of getting there for some is NOT! Well, you DON'T always have to purchase beyond expensive hair care to have perfect hair and this newly-discovered-by-Yelena product is your proof!

I am talking about Aussie Leave-In Conditioner, Hair Insurance!!

The Description: A true work-a-holic, this leave-in conditioner, accented with Australian Silk Protein, puts in overtime to keep hair strong. Married to its job. burning the midnight oil. Any way you put it (which should be in your hair). Hair Insurance Leave-in conditioner spray is always working hard to ward off hair-related accidents. Add some Roo to your do!

Cost: anywhere from $3-5 depending on where you buy

In addition to being such an effective product (my hair is so soft right now :-), it smells SO GOOD!! Aussie Leave-In Conditioner, Hair Insurance smells like the beach. I can't put my finger, or more precisely, nose on it, but I smell some coconut and pineapple and perhaps many more beachy fuity smells that exist.

Have you tried?

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

My 4 Week Challenge UPDATE

Besides the fact that I'm working very hard on getting into tip top shape and have lost 4 pounds in 2 weeks, I have a very helpful TIP for anyone who doesn't already know/follow this.

TIP: Eat 6 - 8 small healthy meals a day instead of 3 big ones! I think we all know this (I know I have for years), but we don't always follow this helpful rule. It works though!

It is 12:45 pm right now, and I have eaten:

-lite cream cheese on whole wheat grain bread (9 am)
-Yogurt (10:30 am)
-Beef Jerky (11:40 am)
-Slim Fast (12:30 pm)
Note: beef jerky is actually an awesome snack! Not many calories at all and hardly any carbs!

See, all this could be consumed in one meal, but I broke it up into 4. I will continue to do so for the rest of the day. Eating less quantity but more times will cause your metabolism to speed up, did you know that? And I'm also thinking, this method would cause you to not feel too hungry at any point of the day, which in turn will naturally cause you to consume less (not that you need to but in case that's your goal)

I'm sorry to my readers who have been doing this all along...you are probably thinking, "duh!! this is nothing new, Yelena!"

However, I am so sure that there are many people out there who don't follow the eating 6-8 times a day method, so hopefully at least 1 or 2 of you will see this!

And now I would love to hear from you:

Do you have any tips?
Do you eat 6-8 times a day? If so, do you notice a difference?

Bronzer Battle: Too Faced vs. Smashbox

My curiosity never fails to amaze me...and perhaps that is something that a lot of us beauty lovers have in common!

The picture was taken in a bad lighting so the orangy colors you see are not true to reality. Both bronzer are natural brown.

I have just recently discovered my favorite bronzer by Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder, but what do you think I did yesterday? I bought yet ANOTHER bronzer, which happens to be Kim Kardashian's favorite - Bronze Lights in Suntan Matte by Smashbox.

I compared the two this morning and....want to take a guess?

To my surprise I favored Too Faced Bronzer! I am a huge fan of Kim Kardashian and think she is amazingly beautiful, so I am completely shocked that I still preferred my bronzer pick over hers!

Bottom line: The colors are similar...almost identical. However, Too Faced is much more pigmented and goes on smoother than Smashbox...just a little! With Too Faced, even though the bronzer is matte, your skin will absolutely glow after application simply because of how smooth the product is. You can layer this bronzer and thus achieve flexibility in color. And a huge perk on top of all of its great qualities, Too Faced bronzer smells and even tastes (but you didn't hear that part from me) AMAZING!

Smashbox is a nice matte bronzer too but is not as pigmented as Too Faced. Some of you may prefer that, but I like to work with a bit of pigmintation. Also, although it looked good as far as color went, my skin did not look like anything special after application. It was just a normal bronze contoured face...very every day, very regular, not bad, in fact good, but not better than Too Faced. :-)

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Deliciously Phenomenal Bronzer!

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder

Having a glowy bronze skin all year around is the sexiest look in my opinion. You look healthy, refreshed, brighter and even relaxed. I have found some amazing bronzers over the past few years, and I have just recently discovered one more that I truly recommend to all of you - Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder.

According to Sephora.com,

What it does: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder makes getting glam-and-tan downright delicious. Too Face combines the natural, therapeutic effects of real cocoa powder with their signature bronzing pigments, creating a unique matte bronzer that neutralizes red and evens out and enhances all skintones. The complexion is left with a flawless finish, a gorgeous radiance, and a subtly sweet scent.

What else you need to know:Bask in beautiful bronze with this crave-worthy (calorie-free!) compact that's sure to excite your senses. This ultra-sheer formula is easy to customize, so you will always look naturally irresistible—never orangey. Get glowing, golden goddess!



My own notes: This is a perfect brown, matte, super smooth, AND DELICIOUS bronzer (although pricey $28)!! But honestly, this is perfect for any skin color. It is so important to own a matte bronzer, I can't stress this enough. Do you own one?
I'm in love....
Please comment back and let me know if you have tried this :-)

Enzo Milano Fabulosity

FABULOSITY!!!!

That's the only word that kept going through my mind after I opened my UPS box inside of which was no other than the fabulous 1-inch Enzo Milano Clipless Curling Iron that I mentioned to you in my eBay Haul Post!!!!

Can you tell I am excited?

I won't tell you too much about it as it is a pretty simple product (and you can see the photo below), but let me just say that this product rocks! Why? The Enzo Milano iron is light, easy to use, super fast, achieves the prettiest beachy/celebrity waves! Gorgeous yet Effortless!


As I've mentioned in the previous post, instead of dropping over $100, I only paid $32.99 on eBay!
eBay seller: manonspring http://myworld.ebay.com/manonspring/
I recommend :-)
p.s. I am happy with the regular shape of the iron! I used to want the conical shaped one, but no...this one is perfect!!!!

Monday, March 30, 2009

eBay Haul

Just minutes after creating the previous post I discovered a very inexpensive Enzo Milano clipless curling iron. It is not a conical shape, just a regular cylindrical shape...but I figured I may as well start somewhere, right?


eBay seller: manonspring http://myworld.ebay.com/manonspring/
Price: $32.99 (free shipping) I know it seems too good to be true but this seller has very positive feedback.

Additional Information:
-Aluminum Teflon coated Barrels to provide a protective barrier between the hair and heated iron providing more damage control.
-Reduced friction and
-Newest ceramic technology provides consistent temp curl after curl
-Ceramic heat will ensure the penetration of silk molecules to the hair
-Hair is heated softly and evenly from inside out
-Fraction of time curling
-Ceramic will produce negative ions to seal the cuticles and repel humidity
-Provides Raw infrared rays for superior protection to hair
-Ceramic far infrared rays reduce frizz and make the hair soft, shinny and healthier.

Once I receive this product and test it out, I will let you know if I recommend for you to buy it as well :-)
**
***
****
*****
Another very recent (but expensive) purchase of mine is Glamour Extensions.
These are so cool! These one-piece 100% Human Remy extensions have been featured in many magazines and worn by numerous celebrities!


So you know how there are a lot of one-piece synthetic hair extensions on the market currently. They are easy to put on (although some brands have weak clips) and give you added length and volume in minutes.

Glamour extensions use the best and purest Remy hair on the market. The extensions that I purchased were a one-piece 21 inch (layered) hair in Color 4/27, which is chocolate brown with blonde highlights. Because the hair is human, I'll be able to style them in various ways.

eBay Seller: glamourextensions http://myworld.ebay.com/glamourextensions/

Price: $169.99 (plus shipping) Yikes!! I'm not buying anything else for a long time now!

Please let me know if you own any of these products. Also please let me know if you would spend this money on hair or if you think its just plain silly. I love your opinions!!

Please Advise - Conical Curling Iron??

Hello everyone!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Mine was a bit tiring as I was at the cheerleading/ambassador try outs (only on Saturday but somehow I am still trying to recover) and I have photos that I'll show you in one of my next posts. (By the way, I totally used one of the bumpits in my hair at try outs, and it stayed and looked great!!!)

I need your advice. There is a fairly new tool on the market, which seems to be very popular in parts of Europe and Australia. I am talking about the Conical Ceramic Curling Iron. It is clipless and is shaped like a cone, which gives you the flexibility of achieving any size curls. This product makes the curling/waving process much faster. You simply wrap your hair all the way around and hold for just a few seconds, then release. Lollipop26 is known for using this product by Babyliss Pro (and her hair is so cute!)

I've looked everywhere: Ulta website, Sally Beauty Supply website, etc. I could not find anything like this anywhere. I have found similar products by Enzo Milano, but the prices are super high.
So now I turn to you beautiful ladies. Do you have any advice on where us ladies in the United States can purchase such a product? Is online the only option really? I would hate to spend over $100 for a styling tool (although I have done so when I bought T3 Hair dryer - amazing!).
Please let me know your thoughts!!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

How I Try to Stay In Shape - 4 Week Challenge

Hey!

I've been asked to discuss what I eat on a daily basis, what I do when I work out, and how I don't become bored at the gym. I will take yesterday as an example since it is fairly standard.

FOOD
I do not have a very strict diet. Neither do I eat the same food every day (not that I think that anyone should or does). Here is what I ate yesterday:

Morning (9 am)-
Slimfast shake in Cappuccino
Apple sauce
A little bit of oatmeal (hot cereal)

Between Breakfast and Lunch (10:30 am)-
A few smoked almonds

Lunch (12:15 pm)-
Small piece of salmon
Green salad (with fat free Italian dressing, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes)
2 onion rings (hehe)

Between Lunch and Dinner (3:00 pm)
Slimfast shake in Cappuccino

Dinner (6 pm) -
Spring egg roll (veggie)
Veggie Lo Mien with a lot of broccoli (very spicy...spice speeds up metabolism)

Note: I am not really mentioning drinks here because its mainly just water (sometimes with lemons)

WORKOUT
I went to the gym late last night (8:45 pm - 10:05 pm)

1) Cardio on the Elliptical Machine with varying resistances for 25 minutes Note: I don't think that doing cardio for a very long time will do any good. The best workout is a mix of cardio and weights.

2) Lower Abs by lifting myself off the ground with my weight supported by my arms. I lifted my legs up and down (50 times).

3) Inner and Outer Thigh toning on a special machine (for each exercise I did 3 sets of ten using 50lb, 60lb, and 70lb)
4) Back, shoulders, and biceps using weights (50 times. Started with 20lb and finished with 30lb)

5) More abs! I grabbed a 2lb ball, positioned myself on an incline with my feet secured on an incline above the rest of my body and I would sit up and lay back down while holding the ball. I switched from doing normal straight sit ups to sideways sit ups.

6) And More abs!! This time I used an ab machine. Its tough to explain it


And that is it! Do I get bored at the gym? Its a tough question. You know, the toughest part is actually preparing to go there especially since it is late and after a long day at work. Sometimes I just want to sit on my couch and watch TV or read a book. But once I am at the gym, I am more than happy. It is very motivating to know that I am doing something healthy and when I see others at the gym working hard it just inspires me to do better. Cardio can get a little uninteresting, but I just stare at the TV in front of me (even though there is no sound). Then I begin thinking about life in general, and that's when I feel entertained enough.

I would love to hear about your experiences, techniques, eating habits, etc. :-)

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

My 4 Week Challenge (created by BUBBLEGARM)

Hi!

BUBBLEGARM was so smart to create a 4 Week Challenge, inspiring others to take the next 4 weeks to do whatever we need to do to look the way we've always wanted to.

Consequently enough I just took the picture you see above yesterday, which happens to be reavealing enough to show you what I'm working with here. I have been working out pretty hard lately, and my food has been nutrioutous for the most part, and mainly this is because I am trying out (in a few days) to be on the Washington Redskins Cheereader Ambassador squad for 2009. This squad is a group of women who are seen at every Football game and at events throughout the Washington DC Metro area mingling with the fans while the Cheerleaders entertain them with their hot dance moves on the field. I have been a part of such an amazing and fun squad for the past 3 seasons, but we all have to re-try out every year. In order to make it on the team, one of the qualifications is to be very fit (as you can probably imagine). Thus, I've been working very hard.

However, I will take the next 4 weeks to work on my abs even more. They are not completely where I would like them to be. I will continue to eat healthy food and exercise very regularly. I will keep you posted on the progress and outcome.

Also I must mention that for try outs the girls must wear a cute outfit that shows our tummies and everything else basically. Each year I grab a needle, some fabric, glitter, and get to work. I have not made the outfit that you see above completely from scratch, but definitely for the most part. Yes, I've poked myself with a needle quite a few times in the past week, but thats ok. The photo above shows my end product. But please ignore the crazy hair and the lack of make up. It was a very late night.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Bumpits & Smooth Away Review

As promised, I have a review for you about Bumpits and Smooth Away, the description of which you can find in one of my previous posts.
The photo above actually features two products (one of which was not on purpose): Bumpits and Jessica Simpson Synthetic Clip-In Hair Extensions.

Bumpits ($19.99 at Sally Beauty Supply) - I don't know to be honest. Yes, it does the job of lifting and volumizing the hair. That is true. One problem is the actual plastic bumpits are tough to hide. I really had to take my time combing hair over the bumpit and even then I'm sure you'd be able to see it if I moved my hair or head a certain way. I did not use hair spray as suggested in the instructions, but I don't like hair spray. I have not actually gone out with bumpits, so I do not know how long they would last before I'd see something strange hanging off my hair - oh yea, bumpit, there you are! You may ask, "but are they sturdy?" My answer is yes, for the most part. Once again, I have not performed the time test.

Should you buy it? Yes, if you want. This product is not terrible. Some people work it better than others. A great example is Emilynoel83. Please see her blog about Bumpits Review http://beautybroadcast.blogspot.com/2009/01/bumpits-review.html

Jessica Simpson Hair Extensions just happened to be on at the time. I've had these for 2 years. I love them. I have human hair extensions, synthetic, already made, the ones that I made myself, you name it. If you ever have any questions about hair extensions feel free to contact me.

Smooth Away ($9.99 at Sally Beauty Supply) This is good! I have not bothered to use this on my legs yet, but I tried on my arms and they are soooo smooth! I know for some this does not work, and I am not sure the exact reason. I think you have to use this product very gently and follow the instructions.

Does this product completely eliminate the use of a razor? Definitely not! But its a fun little extra fun tool if you are into that.

Blogspot Broken?

Oh no! I need your advice!

I was on my blog earlier today and it was perfect. Later on, I signed on again and suddenly I couldn't see any of the blog updates for the blogs that I follow. Is this happening to anyone else? When I go to my profile, I still can see the list of the lovely blogs that I follow. How strange! Please advise!

Thank you!!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Sally Beauty Supply Store Haul

Hey!

Yesterday I went to Sally Beauty Supply store and bought (drum roll):

Bumpits

Smooth Away Hair Removal

I have played with bumpits a little last night, and they do work. I have to play a little more to perfect the technique and then will take pictures and give you my review.

I have not tried Smooth Away yet. I have read very mixed reviews on this product. How it works: you attach the microfine sandpaper sheet to the large (for arms, underarms, legs, ect) or small (for face and hard to reach places) pink buffer handle and very gently rub on the area where you wish to remove hair from in circular motions - 3 times clowise and then 3 times counterclockwise. Pretty interesting! I will try tonight and tell you more about this. Has anyone purchased/used this before?

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

MAC Penultimate Eye Liner



Hey Everyone!

Discovering amazing products that you already own must be one of the coolest feelings. This time I am talking about MAC Penultimate Eye Liner (in black). I have owned this for a few months, but did not fully appreciate the product until now. This looks just like a marker and is so easy to use. Let's see what http://www.maccosmetics.com/ has to say about this eye liner:

"A liquid pen-style liner that provides the ultimate precise, bold line in a rich, deep carbon black shade. Goes on fluidly, in one steady stroke, to style any fashion of eye line."

This eye liner is AMAZING if you want to achieve a super thin/precise line. Don't get me wrong, if you brush this product back and forth a few times, you can definitely have a smoky look also.

I have recently been adding a very thin line right above my top lashline. Did you know that such a method can make your eyelashes look even longer? Its true!

If you do not already own this fun MAC tool, I recommend trying.

Since this is a marker, I am not sure how long it lasts, but I have owned it for a few months and its still good!

More product reviews coming up soon!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

MAC Update


So this is interesting.

Yesterday after work, I went to MAC Store to potentially purchase the new Studio Sculpt Concealer and Foundation (if you live in Northern Virginia - the store is located in Tysons Corner 2 Mall). Let me tell you, the trip to the store was a complete disappointment. Before I discuss this disaster further, I must mention that I used to go to this store very often. I know almost every MUA there and am pretty close with a few. Well, unfortunately all of my good friends were busy with clients, so I was approached by a girl who I have seen but never really dealt with in the past. Long story short, she was a complete Biyach!!! I've never seen anything like this. I was SHOCKED...especially since I have myself been a MUA for years now. Here is a list of crap I had to deal with:

1) She would not let me even walk up to the foundation/concealer area. She insisted on me sitting down and removing a patch of make up that I didn't happen to even have on (regardless of the fact that I told her I have no time for that). Her demands were rude and pushy.

2) Finally, I sat down. As she was wiping off my chin with the MAC wipes, she literally was ordering me to buy these wipes regardless of the fact that I told her I already have 3 packs of these wipes at home.

3) I know I am a bit more pale now than I usually am. I am on the Cheer Ambassador Team for Washington Redskins, and during the off-season I let my skin relax from tanning sprays and what not. Granted, try outs (must try out every year) are in a month now, so my color will be darkening in no time. Well, this girl brings me a foundation color that is literally shades lighter than anything I've ever used - NC20. Yes, I am lighter right now, but generally I am NC 40 on a not so tan day...COME ON! If your make up does not match your skin, it looks more obvious and/or cakey, regardless if it is lighter or darker. The MUA was matching me to my neck, which is NOT the color of my face...lady, please match me to my face and I promise I will create a strategic plan for the neck later. Nope!

4) She tried to sell to me a concealer that was way too light also - NC20...and unfortunately I bough t it, but it does NOT match AT ALL. I will exchange.

5) After her attempt to push me into buying a foundation color that did not even match me, I asked if I could take a sample with me to try out the product and come back for a full size once I reach my normal tan skin color. I explained that I will be getting tanner very soon, and the suggested foundation color would not match me for a year after. She REFUSED!! She said, "customers love this foundation, so you do not need a sample."

6) As if I had no idea, the MUA explained to me in a very rude manner how I need to own a summer and winter foundation color. At that point I responded, "Have you not seen me in this store before? I own about every color and type of foundation you carry...believe me I know, and I DO NOT need a foundation color that I will not consistently use, especially when I'm not big on foundations as it is."

7) I walked out with a concealer that did not match my skin, no samples, and a very bad mood.

My friend and her sister have encountered this MUA in the past also. She was terrible to them too. My friend straight up told her what she thought, saying that she was a complete bit*h and very unprofessional, that her career would not go far at such a rate. Her sister said nothing but got up form the chair abruptly and left the store. So there you have it!

I will exchange the concealer today. I'm not sure if this is because the color is off, but my first reactions to this product are OK but not fabulous. It is creamy which is nice, but I can still see little cakey specks/patches of color under my eyes, which does not look natural. Once again, this is probably because of the wrong color. I will be updating you on my reactions once I find the correct shade.

Till next time :-)

Monday, February 16, 2009

Potential Buys

Hey!

I have finally received internet at my new place so my regular blogging should be back on track shortly.

Because I pay monthly rent now, I am trying to be a little more careful with my spendings. Therefore, I haven't been beauty shopping for quite some time now - especially since I even had to eliminate a lot of my access products while moving. They are all wonderful cosmetics that may have been used only once or twice. I am thinking of selling some of them...do you think its a good idea?

However, there are a few products that I am thinking about a lot lately. Here they are:

1) New Revlon Matte Lipstick in Nude Attitude. Has anyone tried?

2) MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation. Is it possible to achieve a natural look with this product? I probably won't use it all over, but under eyes and around nose. What are your thoughts? I'll give you my review as soon as I try.

3) The new MAC lip conditioner in Pink Fish.

4) I am thinking of checking out the new Creme Sheen lipsticks - Lavender Whip, Creme Cup. I probably won't buy any though.

5) Per Sarabella's blog http://bellamakeup.blogspot.com/2009/02/comparison-between-bliss-labs-and-clean.html - Clean and Clear Oxygenerating Fizzing Cleanser!! Seems amazing!

That's it girls and boys!

Please comment if you have used any of the products listed above. Do you like them? Why or why not?


Also please let me know if you think it is worth selling some of the extra beauty products that I have. My tendency to try new products constantly has left me with a lot of unused ones. They are truly good, I just have too many - mainly make-up (eye shadows, lip products, foundation, bronzers, etc.)

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Work/Office Make-Up: Your Thoughts!

Hey!!

I usually love to give beauty tips, reviews, favorites, and etc. But this post is different. In this post I am asking all of you lovelies for advice and opinion. So please leave me a comment with your thoughts.

Work-appropriate (office) make-up: What is it?
What is too much, and what is too little?

FACE
Foundation: yes or no
Concealer: yes or no
Bronzer: yes or no
Blush: yes or no

EYES
Eyeshadow: yes or no
Darker Crease color: yes or no
Eyeliner on waterline: yes or no
Eyeliner along lash line: yes or no
Mascara: yes or no (what effect?)
Highlighter below brow: yes or no
Anything else?

LIPS
Lip liner: yes or no
Lipstick: yes or no (what color?)
Lip gloss: yes or no

I would love to hear your opinions. If you want to do a reply blog to this, please do so and leave me a comment so I know to read it.

Personally, I do my usual look to work...the one that you've seen in previous blog's photos because that's me. I love glamour, although not too much in an office setting. I believe no matter where you go, you should look cute. But what is too cute for work? Can't wait to hear from you all!!!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Some Rambling

I just wanted to say hello to everyone and to apologize for not posting in a while.

Don't worry, I am still a make-up and beauty addict, and have so much to tell you, but I have been very busy moving! I have lived with my amazing family for 23 years now, even during college, because it was only 6 miles away. I am now venturing out on my own. I love the place, but what amazes me especially is the bathroom. I will do a post on it once I am moved in. It is so big, has two full walls of mirrors, and many many cabinets. Can I say a girl's dream come true? If anyone else would appreciate something like that, it would be you lovely ladies.

Since I am moving and have most of my products packed, I have been sticking to the same hair and make-up routine for a few weeks:

HAIR
-John Frieda Volumizing Shampoo
-John Frieda Volumizing Conditioner
or
-Paul Mitchell Smoothing Shampoo
-Paul Mitchell Smoothing Conditioner
-Process: Wash hair at night, let airdry as I sleep. Spray conditioner in the morning, put in some mousse, and let nature run its course. End result = wavy beachy hair.

Make-Up
-BE is back in my life! I gave it one more chance and love it
-Maybelline Mineral power concealer under eyes and around nose
-TheBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer
-NYC blush
-Too Faced Shadow Insurance
-Coastal Scents Natural Pallet for E/S
-Maybelline Define A Lash Mascara + L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara + MAC Zoom Lash
-Revlon Colorstay automatic pencil in black
-Revlon Colorstay liquid liner in black
-Milani Lipliner in Most Natural
-BarryM lipstick in #101 Marshmallow
-MAC lipstick in Creme D' Nude

That's it! Not much experimentation there. Have any of you tried anything new and exciting recently?

Monday, January 5, 2009

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Foundation Primer


Hi Lovelies!
Surprisingly, I have never been a big fan of primers. I used to use BE's Bare Vitamins primer in the past, because it was a great skin treatment, but nothing else until - NOW! Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer has won me over.
As many of you know, one good way to know if the product is excellent is if you use it all up. This was the first product in a LONG time that I have completely finished (and bought more of).
What this product does: smoothes skin, minimizes pores, evens out complexion, prolongs the wear of your foundation.
Feels like: light-weight mattifying lotion, very smooth, not oily
Looks like: peachy skin color shade, blends well into skin no matter what color (I use it now that I'm NC30/NW25 and when I was NC43/NW35).
Other comments: I wear this primer alone sometimes, with only concealer and MUFE HD powder over top. If you don't need too much coverage but wish to even out your skin color, use this alone. When used with foundation, you are guaranteed a fresh look all day.
Who should use: If you have normal to oily skin, this is for you
Who should not use: I think with dry skin, this product would be a bit tougher, considering it is mattifying. However, use your favorite moisturizer first, and this may just be your HG primer also :-)
What about you? Have you tried any Rimmel Products? What did you like? What did you not like at all?